Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates

This series describes the life histories and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic organisms along the coasts of the United States. The organisms are principally fish of sport, commercial, or ecological importance. The profiles were designed to provide coastal managers, engineers, and biologists with a brief, comprehensive sketch of the biological characteristics and environmental requirements of the species and to describe how populations of the species may be expected to react to environmental changes caused by coastal development. Individual profiles have sections on taxonomy, life history, ecological role, environmental requirements, and economic importance, if applicable.

Mid-Atlantic Species

Click on the species name to view go to the Species Profile. Select the FishBase to go to the FishBase species page, or click on the ITIS to see the ITIS species report.

Alewife & Blueback Herring (Alosa spp.) FishBaseITIS

Mid-Atlantic
View of the Mid-Atlantic coast
[Image courtesy of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center,
Scientific Visualization Studio]

American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) ITIS
American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) FishBaseITIS
Atlantic Shortnose Sturgeons (Acipenser spp.) FishBaseITIS
Atlantic Marsh Fiddler ( Uca pugnax) ITIS
Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) FishBaseITIS
Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia) FishBaseITIS
Bay Anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) FishBaseITIS
Bay Scallop (Argopecten irradians) ITIS
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) ITIS
Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) ITIS
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) FishBaseITIS
Hard Clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) ITIS
Mummichog & Striped Killfish (Fundulus spp.) FishBaseITIS
Softshell Clam (Mya arenaria) ITIS
Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) FishBaseITIS
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) FishBaseITIS
Summer & Winter Flounder (order Pleuronectiformes) FishBaseITIS
Surf Clam (Spisula solidissima) ITIS
Tautog & Cunner (family Labridae) FishBaseITIS
Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) FishBaseITIS

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